Blackpool

The religious profile of Blackpool changed substantially in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in marriage and health.

The population changed very little

In the decade to 2011, the population of Blackpool remained close to 142,000.

The loss of about 200 people means this area's population decreased by 0.1% between that last two censuses, while the population of England increased by 7.9%

In 2011, Blackpool was home to, on average, 29 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the North West's third-most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in social renting

This area saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of socially rented homes.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) households in Blackpool lived in social housing, compared with 9.6% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 18% to 26%.

The largest increase occurred in Hertsmere (from 16% to 17%) followed by Redbridge (from 10% to 11%).

The rate of social housing was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that that rented socially across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Blackpool

The number of people in Blackpool that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 16,000 in 2001 to about 35,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 11% to 25% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Blackpool that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 95,000 in 2011 (from 79% to 67%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 12,000 to just under 9,100 (from 8.8% to 6.4%).

About 1,100 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 620 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Blackpool increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Blackpool by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Blackpool stood out from other areas for children

In Blackpool, the proportion came down from 66% in 2001 to 65% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 59% to 61%.

The proportion of households with children in Blackpool remained close to 26%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.4% to 9.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Blackpool residents that were unemployed increased from 4.2% to 6.1% between the last two censuses.

The proportion who said they were employed remained close to 47%, while the percentage of Blackpool residents that were self-employed decreased from 9.7% to 9.6%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Blackpool increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Blackpool, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Blackpool

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Blackpool at a faster rate than in nearby Fylde.

In Blackpool, the proportion of single people increased from 28% in 2001 to 35% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Fylde increased from 23% to 26%.

Across the North West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of married people in Blackpool fell from 45% to 39%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 15% to 16%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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